RESUMEN
This study describes the incidence, risk factors, obstetric and perinatal outcome of transverse lie in singleton pregnancies at term at the Princess Badeea Teaching Hospital in Northern Jordan. A retrospective study was undertaken for woman who delivered over a 5-year period from January 1997 to January 2002. There were 164 cases of term transverse lie out of 45,763 deliveries during the study period. The incidence of transverse lie at term was 0.36%. This occurred more commonly in grandmultiparous[79.3%] in comparison to low parous [14.6%] and primigravid [6.1%] woman. The most common risk factors associated with transverse lie were placenta praevia [7.3%], polyhydramnios [4.9%], uterine anomalies [3.7%] and contracted pelvis [3%]. The antenatal and intrapartum complications associated with this condition were premature rupture of membranes [10.4%], antepartum haemorrhage [6.1%] cord prolapse [3%] and uterine rupture [0.6%]. The majority of women were delivered by emergency caesarean section [73.8%] and 18.9% of women were delivered by elective caesarean section. External cephalic version and successful vaginal delivery were achieved in 7.3% of women. The perinatal mortality was 42.7 per 1000 births. There were 7 cases of perinatal deaths; 3 stillbirths and 4 early neonatal deaths. Better antenatal care and the use of ultrasonography will lead to early diagnosis of transverse lie. Elective admission and delivery, whether by caesarean section of vaginally after external cephalic version of such cases will minimize if not completely eliminate, the major, hazards associated with transverse lie in labour